Of pennsyl



Feb. 5, 1929. 1,701,035

s. J. GRAHAM cUP l nrsrnussn Filed July 23, 1924 v 2 sheets-Sheet 1 LLSS Feb. s; 1929.

S. J. GRAHAM CUP DISPENSER Filed July 23, 1924 2 Sheets-Shaw` 2 5140 ntof,

atten/WMS Patented Feb. 5, lQQ.

SAMUEL J'. GRAHAM, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.,

'FFC.

ASSIGNOR TO INDIVIDUAL JDRINKING CUP COMPANY, INC., OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLT VANIA.

CUP DISPENSER.

Application filed J'uly 23, 1924. Serial No. 727,795.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for dispensing paper drinking cups and the like, and more particularly has to d0 with cup dispensers of that type comprising a magazine for` a stack of nested cups with means for retaining the cups and from which the cups are disengaged by exerting a downward pull upon the lowerinost of the staclr of cups.

In cup dispensers of the type referred to, the major or a substantial portion of the lowermost cups of the stack project beyond the lower end of the device, and the tendency of the user in withdrawing a cup is to grasp the body of the cup by the hand. and in order to obtain a sucient hold on the cup body to exert the necessary downward pull to release the cup from the retaining means, the body of the cup is often squeezed to such an eX- tent as to seriously distort or crush the same, which, as will be appreciated, results in a material loss.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved cup dispenser of the type mentioned that will provide for the more satisfactory withdrawal of the cups while preventing the objectionable grasping of the cup body by the hand above the bottom thereof with the injury to the cup and loss incidental thereto.

Ar further object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the character referred to that will prevent the user from grasping the body of the cup above the bottom thereof, and will indicate to the user a certain portion of the cup tobe gripped by the lingers to withdraw the cups.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved cup retaining means of a simple eflieient nature.

lThe invention, with other objects and advantages thereof, and the particular construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, comprising the same will be understood from the hereinafter contained detail description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, andillustrating one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of a cup dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is in part a vertical section and part side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of a lower poirtion of the device.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view with the magazine removed.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5-5 Figure 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail top plan view of one of the split ring members of the cup retaining means.

Fig. 7 is a detail edge view of one of the split ring members of the cup retaining means.

Figs. 8 and 9 aie perspective and vertical vsectional views respectively of a paper cup construction which the device is capable of dispensing.

The invention comprehends a cup dispenser comprising a magazine or container for a stack of nested cups provided with cup retaining means and having a skirt portion constructed and arranged to extend about the lowermost of the stack of cups held by the retaining means and to allow only a portion of the lower-most cup of the stack` to be grasped in disengaging the cups from the retaining means. More particularly the invention contemplates a skirt portion ext-ending about and to the lower end of the lowermost of the stack of cups and provided at the side with an opening or slot extending inwardly from its lower marginal edge, said opening exposing to view a lower side portion of the cup and being of a size and shape to permit the ready insertion of a thumb and linger to grip Aa lower side edge portion of the cup.

l/Vhile a specilic embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings, it will of course be understood that changes and variations inay be made in the particular construction shown, and the invention may be enibodied in other forms, as will appeal to those skilled in the art and falling within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to a detail description of the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, l designates a casing, preferably of metal, which forms a support for the magazine or container for the cups and the cup retaining means. The casing l, which is shown cylindrical in form,

and With a flat attaching part l at the rear thereof, adapted to be secured by screws or equivalent fastening means (not shown), to any suitable support, has an inwardly extending portion 1h.

The special cup retaining means shown in the drawings comprises a resilient spring like member loosely supported on the casing 1 for free expansion, said member being of an interior diameter slightly less than the greatest diameter of the cups and adapted to engage the side wall of the lowermost cup and support the stack of cups, and to expand sutliciently to permit the withdrawal of the cups singly when a downward pull is exerted upon the lowermost cup. The invention comprehends the use of a single split ring member or a series of such members, two being shown in the present instance designated 2, lVhen more than one split ring member is employed the interior diameter of the respective members, preferaliily. vary slightly in size, in the construction shown the interior diameter of the upper resilient split ring member 2 being slightly greater' than that of the lower split ring member 3. In the particular construction illustrated, the split ring members Q, 3, are mounted in annular recesses or grooves 4, 5, in an annular carrier 6, which tits within the casing l and rests upon the inwardly extending flange or portion lb thereof. 7 designates the magazine, preferably of glass, detachably seated in the casing l with its lower end resting upon the annular carrier member 6.

Refe ring particularly to Figures l and 2. ofthe drawingsn 8 designates the skirt portion constructed and arranged to ext-end around the lowermost cups and prevent the grasping of the body of the cups above the bottom thereof by the hand and to expose to view and allow only a portion of the lowermost cup in the region of the bottom thereof to be grasped indisengaging the cups from the retaining` means. The skirt portion 8, as shown, preferably extends below the lower end of the lowermost cups held by the retaining` means, and is provided in its side with an opening' or slot 9 extending` inwardly thereof from its lower end, said slot exposing to view a lower side portionof the lower-most cup of the stack and being of a sir/,e and shape to pe"- mit of the ready insertion of a thumb and ,tin- `ger laterally within the skirt portion to grip the lower margilral side edge portion. of the lowcrmost cup infojecting therewithin. The opening or slot 9 is shown located at the front of the skirt portion and of tapered form, widest at the lower end of the skirt and bounded by an upper curved edge 9u and curved side edges 9b, 9".

The skirt portion 8 which is shown slightly tapering at its lower part, may be, and preferably is, as shown, slightly contracted or of a diameter approximately equal to the greatest diameter of the cups so that in the withdrawal of the cups, said contracted mouth or lower portion of the s irt will serve to support the cup by slight frictionai engagement therewith vshould the cup be only partiall y widthdrawn from the skirtafter its disengagement from the cup retaining means. T he skirt portion 8 may also, as shown', have its rear wall 8b inclined inwardly as shown so as to guide or present the cups, after their disengagement from the cup retaining means at a slight forward inclination.

In Fio'ures 8 and 9 of the d ra win gs is illustrated a paper cup a of frusto-conical form, the bottom a of the cup is slightly above the lower cud thereof, upper marginal portions of the cup being spaced, as sho-wn, when the cups are nested. The cup construction shown is formed of relatively light or thin material, and a notable characteristic of this construction over the conventional form of cups of Ythis type is the absence of the usual reinforcing bead or curled edge portion at the mouth thereof.

lt will be noted that by the special construction and arrangement of parts hereinbefore described, a cup dispenser of a simple ellicient nature is afforded that provides for a more satisfactory and easv withdrawal of the cups from the retaining means thereof and entirely prevents the objectionable grasping of the cup body above the bottom of the cup and the attendant injury and loss, the construction being such as to expose to view only a certain portion of the lowermost cup and to indicate to the user the .proper wayto withdraw the cups. Furthermore, the device is capable of dispensing and makes it possible to use a lighter, cheaper cup construction unreinforced by the usual bead or curl at the mouth.

lWhat I claim is:

l. A cup dispenser comprising a magazine adapted to receive a stack of nested cups and having associated therewith cup retaining?,I means including an annular chamber and a resilient split ring member wit-hin said chamber, the chamber being of a diameter greater than the normal diameter of the split ring` member providing for the expansion of the latter.

2. A cup dispenser comprising a magasine adapta-d to receive a stack of nested cups and having zn-asociatcd therewith cup retaining means including` an annular chamber and a plurality of resilient split ring members, said chamber being of greater diameter than the diameter of the split ring members providing for the free expansion of the latter.

3. A cup dispenser comprising a magazine part, cup retaining means, and a depending tubular skirt portion to extend about the lowermest. cup held by the retaining means, said skirt portion being of su'flicent length to eX- tcnd to the region of the bottom of the lower- Il l) most eup and complet-ely surround that part of the lowermost Cup extending downwardly from the retaining means except a lower marginal portion thereof in the regio-n of the bottom of tie oup to be gripped in disengaging the cup from the cup retaining means.

4. A cup dispenser comprising a magazine adapted to receive a stank of nested oups and having associa-ted therewith cup retaining means comprising a resilient split ring member and means for supporting said split ring member providing for expansion of the same and disengagement of oups therefrom.

5. A cup dispenser comprising a magazine part, cup retaining means providing for the release of a. eup therefrom by a` downward pull upon a lower portion of the Cup, and a skirt portion extending about the lowermost cup held by the retaining means to allow only a portion of the lowermost oup in the region of the bottom thereof to be grasped in disenthe Cup from the oup retaining means7 said skirt portion being of sufficient length to extend substantially to the low-er end of the lowermost oup held by the Cup retaining means and being provided with a slot extendinginwardly thereof from its lower marginal edge of a size and shape to permit a lower marginal portion of the lowermost cup held by said cup retaining means to be grasped to disengage the same from the Cup retaining means.

6. A Cup dispenser' comprising ay magazine part, cup retainingr means providing for the release of a Cup therefrom by a downward pull upon a. lower portion of the cup, and a skirt portion to extend about the lowermost cup held by the retaining means7 said skirt portion being of suflieient length to extend substantially to the lower end of the lowermost cup held by the cup retaining means and being provided with a slot extending inwardly thereof from its lower marginal edge of a size and shape to permit a lower marginal side edge portion of the lowermost cup held by said oup retaining means to be grasped in disengaging the same from the Cup retaining means, said slot being of general semi-circular shape.

7. A eup dispenser comprising a magazine part, Cup retaining means providing for the release of a eup therefrom by a downward pullupon a loafer portion of the cup, and a shirt portion to extend about the lowermost eup held by the retaining means, said skirt portion being of suioient length to extend substantially to the lower end of the lowermost eup held by the cup retaining means and being provided with a slot extending` inwardly thereof from its lower marginal edge of a size and .shape to permit a lower marginal side et ge portion of the lowermost cup held by the cup retaining means to be grasped to disengage the same from the cup retaining means the marginal edge of the shirt portion bounding the upper end of the slot being curved.

8. A eup dispenser comprising a magazine part, cup retaining means providing for the releaseA of a oup therefrom by a downward pull upon a. lower portion of the Cup7 and a skirt portion to extend about the lowermost eup held by the retaining means7 said skirt portion being of sufficient length to extend substantially to the lower end of the lowermost cup held by the Cup retaining means and being provided with a slot extending inwardly thereof from its lower marginal edge of a size and shape to permit a. lower marginal side edge portion of the lowermost cup to be grasped to disengage the same from the cup retaining means, said slot being wider at its lower part at the lower end of the shirt portion than at its upper part.

9. A cup dispenser comprising a tubular holder member adapted to have detaehably seated within the same a magazine member, and cup retaining means providing` for the release of a cup therefrom by a downward pull upon a lower portion of the oup, said holder member being provided with a depending skirt portion to extend about the lowermost cup held by the oup retaining means, said skirt portion being of sufficient length to extend substantially to the lower end of the lowermost @up held by the-cup r-etaining means and being provided with a .slot extending inwardly thereof from its lowe marginal edge of a size and shape to permit a lower marginal side edge portion of the lowermost cup held by said retaining means to be grasped to disengage the same from the oup retaining means.

ln testimony whereof I hereunto afi'ix my signature.

SAMUEL J. GRAHAM. 

